Ahram Weekly

Digest

Compiled byDoaa El-Bey

di01

Al-Ahram Weekly

Al-Baghdadi launches ‘Islamic State’

This is a still picture of a controversial video showing Abu Bakr Al-Baghdadi, leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), who emerged from the shadows for the first time to lead Friday prayers at Mosul’s Great Mosque next to machine guns with Muslim worshippers behind him. He announced himself as “Caliph Ibrahim” or “the leader who presides over you”, urging Muslims to join him and “make jihad” for the sake of Allah.
The mosque has several dozen men and boys standing for prayer, and a flag of the black Islamic State group is hoisted in the mosque. One man stands guard, with a gun holster under his arm.
(photo: AP)

A brave decision

“The Mehleb government took a brave decision in its move to deal with the problem of subsidies. We have been talking for years about taking that step. But no one was courageous enough to approach that grave problem. The value of subsidies started with LE20 million, and had reached LE130 billion already.”Galal Deweidar, Al-Akhbar

A difficult birth

“In its argument about prices, the government focused on comparing the prices of petrol in the richer Arab and western countries. It ignored the small salaries that most Egyptians earn. So before arguing about international prices, it has to offer the people a decent salary. After that the government and citizens should work out a formula to facilitate their communication and enable them to go through the delivery process of the new state.”Mohamed Ibrahim Al-Dessouki,
Al-Ahram

Social consensus?

“The regime or present authority does not believe that any amendment in subsidies policies should be preceded by wide public debate in which all main social powers should take place. The regime or present authority does not believe that it should also be preceded by an attempt to convince the citizen that it is incumbent and fair. It requires reaching a state of social consensus before applying it.”Amr Hamzawi, Al-Shorouk

Egyptian Essence: An Egyptian Battalion in Mexico

The Egyptian Battalion has one of the most curious expeditions in the history of European colonialism in Mexico in 1863-1867.